Today (March 18) is National Ag Day, a nationwide effort to tell the true story of American agriculture. This special day reminds us all of farmers and ranchers’ critical role in providing food and fiber for the world. It’s also a great chance to educate youth about where their food comes from, and have important discussions with adults about how we can sustainably produce enough food in the future to feed a growing population.

National Ag Day was founded in 1973 by the American Council of Agriculture (ACA). ACA is an organization of leaders in the agriculture, food and fiber communities dedicated to increasing public awareness of agriculture’s vital role in our society.

Here are four ways to celebrate and promote National Ag Day today!

1. Join the conversation by following @BEEFmagazine, @noblefoundation, and hashtag #agday2015 on Twitter.

The Noble Foundation will celebrate National Ag Day with special stories, facts and videos on the organization’s Facebook and Twitter pages throughout the week. Help spread the word by retweeting, liking, sharing and posting your own agricultural stories on social media.

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“Every American should understand how the food we eat and the seemingly endless stream of goods from agriculture are produced,” says Bill Buckner, president and CEO of the Noble Foundation, in a recent press release. “We must value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy. Nothing is more fundamental to our existence than food and the land it springs from.”

Buckner adds that there are real challenges in feeding a growing population.

“We must increase our commitment to agricultural research and our support to our farmers and ranchers,” he says. “That is why we celebrate National Ag Day. These men and women are the stewards of the land. For generations, they have provided safe, affordable, abundant food for our families. In the next generation, they will have to do even more.”

2. Seek out National Ag Day commemorations in your area.

National Ag Day commemorations are planned across the country, so seek out events in your area. For instance, in my area in eastern South Dakota, families are invited to attend Ag Day 2015 festivities at the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls on Saturday, March 21. The 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. event features a free lunch and free admission to the Kirby Science Discovery Center, which includes three floors of hands-on activities for kids and families. For more information, click here.

3. In Washington, D.C., celebrate agriculture with a full two-day event.

If you’re close to Washington, D.C., there is an awesome two-day event planned there. Included are a photography exhibit featuring farm women, a bagel breakfast discussing the future of agriculture, biotechnology, sustainability, big data, and advancements in modern agriculture, a panel discussion on industry hot topics, and a celebration of agriculture dinner in the USDA building.

For the complete schedule of events and to purchase tickets, click here. 

4. Use the Ag Day social media kit for online posts about food production.

For some ideas on how to promote #agday2015 on social media, check out this social media toolkit. Simply copy and paste some of the suggested tweets and Facebook posts or create your own.

Click here for the toolkit. 

For additional fun facts, click here. 

Are there any Ag Day celebrations close to you? Share the details with us in the comments section below! Don’t forget to promote agriculture today on your social media outlets! Happy Ag Day to all of you!

The opinions of Amanda Radke are not necessarily those of Beefmagazine.com or the Penton Farm Progress Group.

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